Breast cancer patients in Gaza face delayed diagnoses, medicine shortages, and limited access to scans and treatment due to Israel's war and blockade, with hundreds of women unable to receive timely care.
01Summary
- 01Hiba Musbah, 36, has undergone seven rounds of chemotherapy but her condition has worsened due to treatment delays and medicine shortages.
- 02Musbah waited two months for surgery because of Israeli military attacks around Nasser Hospital, and chemotherapy was delayed for seven months.
- 03She needs a CT scan costing 150 shekels ($48), which she cannot afford, and waits over three months for an appointment.
- 04Gaza recorded 250 new breast cancer cases in 2024 and about 260 in 2025, down from 360 annually pre-war, but the ministry says screening has collapsed.
- 05Dr Iman al-Haj Ahmad, a doctor and breast cancer patient, waited a month for surgery and lost 20kg due to chemotherapy and food shortages.
02Why it matters
This story highlights how the collapse of Gaza's health system, exacerbated by war and blockade, deprives cancer patients of timely diagnosis and treatment, directly worsening their survival chances and quality of life.
Pulse AIAsk about this story
Answers are generated by AI from the story summary; they are not investment, health or legal advice.
